Speaking of the Devil

So after coming home from the debate about the travel sanctions, I turned on the TV and started watching the history channel. I got up to go to my bedroom to check email and such. After a little while I got sleepy and started to drift off. I had left the TV on in the other room but was now too sleepy to go turn it off. Then I heard the word "Che". Instantly I was awake. So I run into the TV room and see that the History Channel is airing something called: The true story of Che Guevara.

It's basically, a readers digest version of the Cuban Revolution and Che's life with all the usual suspects appearing such as Che biographer, John Lee Anderson and Peter Kornbluh. Also in the program is Felix Rodriguez, the CIA agent that tracked Che down in Bolivia.

If you want to really know the the true story of Che, my bet is that Humberto Fontova's new book will be a better source than the infotainment the History Channel provides.

I know a couple of folks living in Miami Beach that I should send a copy to as a gift.

UPDATE

There's a happy ending. Che dies in the end.

The best of journalism

At my blog, I try to provide as many updates as possible on Cuba's independent press, especially the more than 25 journalists imprisoned in the gulag. As a Cuban and as a journalist, my admiration for these men, in jail for doing their jobs too well, has no bounds.

The imprisoned journalists, like other political prisoners, get the worst the dictatorship has to deliver, but with a pride and sense of defiance that astounds, they stay on their beats, informing the outside world of the horrors of Cuba's prisons.

Men like Raimundo Perdigón Brito and Juan Carlos Herrera Acosta . represent the best of journalism, and the best of Cuba.

For more on Cuba's imprisoned journalists, read Reporters Without Borders.

Santana on Che

Rather than speculate on what Santana feels about Che Guevera, the butcher of La Cabaña, perhaps it would be instructive to hear from Santana in his own words.

On April 29, 2005 (just 11 days after Santana's management issued a statement about the Oscars appearance and just 8 days after he posed for a picture with Emilio Estefan in Las Vegas) the Argentine newspaper, El Imparcial, published the following remarks made by Santana at a press conference:

He asserted, “I feel that it is essential that a (Ernesto) ''Che'' (Guevara), a (subcomandante) Marcos, and a (Emiliano) Zapata exist. Hopefully, in the future, it won't be necessary for them to kill”.

Obviously Santana values what Guevera did, and not just as a "soulful young man portrayed in [The Motorcyle Diaries]."

Contrary to what his management claimed it seems that Santana indeed appreciates the "hatred, anger [and] revolutionary ruthlessness displayed when Che Guevara was a revolutionary leader in Cuba."

Santana is not, as some people have speculated, just a perpetually high idealist without a clue about Guevara's bloody history. He knows that Guevara is a killer and justifies the killing as "necessary."

Keep on telling me that this is no big deal.

¿Cómo se dice put my foot in my mouth?

I'm so sorry, as soon as I saw La Conchita's comment, I realized I'd forgotten all about lent and how inappropriate the sandwich Cubano post was. I'm not Catholic, but that's no excuse. Then there was the phone call from my Catholic school teacher daughter..."Mother!" It's not likely I'll make this mistake again. She's sending me a calendar.

San Cheque

It's Friday and that not only means that our weekend will soon be upon us, but for most of us it's "San Cheque", meaning, it's Payday!

And, since it's San Cheque, I figure it's the best day to hit you all up for Cuba Nostalgia donations. There's a little less than two months before the event begins and we're way behind on fundraising. This year's goal is $5000, so far we're at close to $700. Obviously, there's a long way to go.

I've added the donation button to the sidebar as well as a "Cuba Nostalgia Sponsor" area where a graphic image and link for those businesses that have donated some greenbacks will be featured. A donation of $120 or more gets your company's graphic up there on the sidebar so if your interested in your business becoming an official Babalu Cuba Nostalgia Sponsor, email me at cubanostalgia - at - babalublog - dot - com.

The first Official Cuba Nostalgia Sponsor is Diez Architecture, Inc. in Miami, Florida. I worked with Pete Diez some years back and not only is he a darned good architect but a very good friend and colleague. So, if you're in the need for that new high rise condo building you just been dying to build, or your mansion in Weston or Star Island needs major architectural work, give Pete a call. Tell him the Lynx sent you.

Gracias, Pete, for your support and friendship all of these years.

Friday Open Thread

So, um...what's up for this weekend?

Ill be sanding and painting that "free" patio furniture.

Breaking News!

ESPN has just announced that it has hired Tim Hardaway to host a special two-hour round table about gay athletes.

I know, it sounds ridiculous. Almost as ridiculous as asking an avowed Che-lover to appear on an album dedicated to, and about Cuba.

The thing is that one of these ridiculous things happened and I just made the other one up.

Friday Fast for Cuban Political Prisoners

In solidarity.

Santanagate, it was no big deal.

After much deliberation, consultation and meditation I believe I know how it came to be that Emilio and Gloria Estefan asked Carlos Santana to collaborate on Gloria’s upcoming album, 90 Millas.

It was no big deal, they thought.

I believe that the Estefans have been friendly with Santana for many years. I believe that during those years the Estefans have talked to Santana about the reality of Cuba but that Santana just doesn’t get it. After trying again and again, I believe, they decided that Santana is off in his own little world. It was no big deal.

In February of 2005, when Santana wore his now infamous designer T-shirt to the Oscars in front of a national television audience of 41.5 million viewers, while performing a song for a movie that is an ode to the Butcher of La Cabaña, they thought that it was just another case of the flighty Santana being Santana. It was no big deal.

Two months later, when Santana’s management issued a statement about the incident, a statement that talked about Santana in the third person, a statement that did not even quote Santana, a statement that instead of apologizing for the pain Santana’s actions caused, blamed the offended parties for not interpreting the actions properly, they must have shrugged it off. It was, after all, no big deal.

Just three days after that Emilio Estefan proudly posed for pictures with Santana at the BMI Latin Music Awards in Las Vegas. Why not? Santana did apologize, didn't he? Besides, they say that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. And so, it was no big deal.

So it shouldn’t have come as a surprise to us, though it did, that they would invite their old friend Santana, who through his actions and words has proven time and again that he is a denier of the Cuban tragedy, to appear on an album dedicated to Cuba. Who would have a problem with that, they must have thought? It certainly was no big deal.

Perhaps Santana’s management had it right when they issued their statement defending that artist’s actions. Perhaps situations like these are a matter of misperception. You see it wasn’t the Estefans that made an error in judgment, it was us who erred in the interpretation.

All along we thought the Estefans were Cuban-American musicians when they are apparently musicians that just happen to be Cuban-Americans. We thought that when they spoke and acted that they spoke and acted on our behalf, and that it was a big deal. We were wrong.

It was no big deal.

The Czechs Do It Again

I dont know if a free Cuba has a greater ally than the Czechs:

People in Need continue "jail cell" campaign for Cuban dissidents

[27-03-2007] By Rob Cameron

Visitors to Prague were treated to an odd sight recently - prisoners wearing striped fatigues sitting disconsolately in a pretend jail cell on Wenceslas Square. It was neither a piece of performance art nor an elaborate joke, but part of a campaign run by the Czech NGO People in Need, to remind people of the imprisonment of 75 Cuban dissidents in March 2003.

Many of those dissidents are still in prison, cut off from their friends and family. Nikola Horejs is from People in Need's centre for human rights and democracy:

"This was started after March 2003, when 75 journalists and opposition politicians were jailed in Cuba in a massive crackdown. Since then, we've been doing this in solidarity with them. So we try to sit in the jail so they would not have to spend so much time in their jail themselves."

This is today's absolute must read, an interview with Czech Nikola Horejs of People in Need, and you can find it right here.

Hat tip Lee.

Sin comentario...

El Gusano pretty much says all that needs to be said.

The Request Lines are open . . . for Marta's Cuban American Kitchen

I’m taking a break from posting here this week to try out some new recipes, and I was hoping to get some feedback from some of you fearless souls who have already started cooking or are hoping to see their favorite Cuban recipes simplified.

While you’re waiting, why don’t you make up a batch of my super simple Pastelitos de Guayaba

I’ll be back next week with a fabulous recipe for Ropa Vieja. So get those crockpots ready!

BTW, my big, fat Cuban family LOVES you guys.
This is why. =D

Some things are sacred.

As you all can imagine, yesterday was a pretty stressful day here on the blog, having had two back to back posts that garnered a fair amount of comments, with many opinions, criticisms, discussions, debate, etc... (I'd like to thank all for their composure, given the passion we all have for the subject.) By the end of my work day, I was completely frazzled. My head wasnt necessarily spinning, but it was sure getting there in a hurry.

I lock up the office, hop in the truck and head for a local convenience store that's on the way home. I get there, pick up a pack of smokes and some beer and haul ass out of there only to get stuck in traffic. The usual 5 minutes it takes me to get from one landmark to another takes me about 20 minutes. Since I hate being in traffic and compounded the the stressful day, I am steaming mad at that point.

Traffic continues to inch along at a snails pace, Im pissed and there's a six pack of beer sitting next to me that I cant drink and that's getting warmer and warmer by the minute. Why is it that when youre always in a hurry,everyone seems to be whistling dixie behind the wheel?

So I inch along in traffic, beer next to me still getting hot and it seems I have every moron with license in front of me, when some idiot about three cars in front of me rear ends the other idiot in front of him. I completely lose it and go into a major tirade by myself and for myself right there in my truck because you know what happens next. The two morons will get out of their cars, inspect the damage, argue a little , call the cops, etc... and every other driver is going to basically stop, examine the accident like they are part of a CSI team and then continue to inch their way along ,after calling everyone on their cellphone to tell them about the accident.

Im steaming mad as it appears I will never, ever get home. I scream bad words I didnt even know that I knew, let out massive sighs, call people names, the whole works.

Then, as Im contemplating getting out of my truck and beating the shit out of everyone around me, I look over to my right and this overwhelming peace comes over me. Birds start singing, butterflies start flying around, rainbows and unicorns appear across a clear powder blue sky. Beautiful harp music begins to play. I am stopped, in traffic, right in front of my local bait and tackle shop. I know what this feeling is. Ive had it before. It's an angling epiphany.

"Yes!" I say to myself. "I am goinna do me some fishing." What better way to relax and let the day just slide right off.

I pull into the Fishing Line Bait and Tackle Shop, pick up a new box of hooks, a new spool of 6 lb test, a pack of bobbers and a dozen shiners for bait. Ordinarily, I dont use live bait to fish out in the canal, I use lures. But I just want to fish Calvin and Hobbes style, sitting back all nice and comfy with a line in the water and the bobber gently bobbing on the ripples. Let the bait do all the work, I just want to sit there and drink beer and chill out.

I get back in my truck with my new fishing goodies in hand and this time, the traffic doesnt bother me. I can wait the few extra minutes in traffic now as when I get home, i'm not just going to decompress, Im going to fish. Im going to sit there with a stick and a string with a hook attached to it and try to catch a Peacock or Large Mouth bass. The breeze will gently caress my skin, the sound of the ripples lapping on the bank will lull my senses, that sound broken only by the whir of the reel as I land my fist bass.

When I finally get home I run inside, change into my fishing shorts and chancletas and tshirt, toss a couple beers in the freezer and head out back with my bag o' fishing goodies and my bucket o' bait and a big ole smile on my face. The sun is shining, breeze is breezin' and those unicorns are still romping peacefully over those rainbows.

I get to ManCamp, set down the bag o'goodies and tie a rope to the bucket and drop it in the canal. Dont want the shiners dyin' on me. All is right in the world because I am about to fish!

I pull out the pack of hooks and bobbers from the bag o' goodies, open them and take out a bobber and a hook. I gently close both packs, put them away in the tackle box and, with hook and bobber in hand I look for my rod and reel and....wait...Where's my trusty rod and...what the...it was right there in the...

$%#@$%^&%$$!!!! MOTHER #$%%^$@@ SON OF A $%*&^^$%^%! SOME MOTHER$%#@%^& SON OF A %^%$#@ MOTHER$%&&*^%$#@ STOLE MY $%^&^#$@#@ ROD AND REEL!

So much for decompression, fishing, rainbows and #$%^&%$@ unicorns.

Please espique de languesh

From the official Metro-Dade Office of Tourist Affairs we have the official Miami-Dade County language helper:

Berguerquín - Burger King
Magdonal - McDonald's
El queimar - K-mart
Guolmar - Walmart
Besbai - Best Buy store
Sebenileben - 7-Eleven convenience store
El Guindici - Winn-Dixie Supermarket
El Pobli - Publix Supermarket
Guashinton - Washington D.C. or one dollar
Mayamibish - Miami Beach
tonpai - Florida's Turnpike
un picop - a pick-up truck
transporteichon - a barely adequate automobile
un estop - a stop sign
daontaon - Downtown area
Maico - a man or boy named Michael
tineiyer - teenager
un yin - a pair of jeans
pantijós - panty hose
yaqui - a jacket or windbreaker
pulove - a pull-over
tichér - T-shirt
un su - a lawsuit
un partain - a part-time job
printear - to print; use a computer printer
faxear - to fax
taipear - to type
incontá - Income Tax
el teipe - tape any kind
lonchando - having lunch
cachú - tomato ketchup
jatdó - a hot dog
sanguiche - a sandwich
un pari - a party
vi vaporrú - Vicks Vapor Rub
Incom ta - income

More and more ridiculous by the minute

Granma, the official mouthpiece of the Cuban government, publishes an "editorial" written by fidel castro and the MSM takes it as gospel that the dictator is fine and dandy:

Fidel Castro writes first editorial since surgery

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba's Fidel Castro published his first editorial since his July surgery on Thursday, signing his name to a scathing article on U.S. biofuel plans for Thursday's edition of the Communist Party newspaper Granma.

The article -- e-mailed to the media in the early hours of Thursday and later posted on Granma's web site -- said nothing about Castro's state of health, but signalled that the convalescing leader is following world affairs closely.

It was the latest indication that Castro has no plans to retire from the limelight, after comments by various government officials recently that he is recovering well enough to soon take a more active role in government.

(emphasis mine)

According to this Reuters "reporter", the editorial published in Granma "signaled" this and that and is the "latest indication" that castro is alive and kicking. Meanwhile, he has not been seen publicly for months, has granted no interviews to any reporter for months and all reports of his recuperation has been forwarded by the government and plebes like Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales.

Imagine the uproar if a US president had disappeared from the limelight for months, not granted interviews and not been seen for months, and then the government released a statement containing an editorial supposedly written by him. Do you think all of these reporters world take the US Government at their word, or would they demand physical, tangible proof that the President was in fact alive and well?

For crying out loud, when is a reporter or journalist covering Cuba going to have the balls to report the fucking truth and not one handed them by some Cuban government lackey?

Update: Fausta tells "fidel" "I got your ethanol RITE HEAH!"

Babalu Radio Hour

As if I needed to advertise this, tonight at 8:00 PM the Babalu Radio Hour will be on the air. Click the image below at 8:00 PM EDT and click the button to listen live. If you log on too early the archived show from last week might start playing. So be there (or reload the page) at 8:00 PM sharp.

I think we are going to go free form tonight with a lot of open phones. The number to call is on the linked page. Hint: use your mobile phone and save on long distance (most mobile phone plans come with free long distance) because the call-in number is out of state.

Curioso, na'mas...

Just out of curiosity, let's see the general concensus:

Should Gloria and Emilio Estefan's new album 90 Millas be released with a collaboration on one track with Carlos Santana, and with no public apology from Carlos Santana himself regarding his public adulation of Che Guevara, will you purchase said album?

Champion of free speech? - UPDATED

Interesting column by Ana Menendez in today's Herald. Interesting to me that is. Not because of the typical plattitudes that she serves up but because of this glowing endorsement of John de Leon, a south Florida attorney who is the Vice President of the Miami chapter of the ACLU:

De Leon, who has probably done more than any other Cuban American to protect free expression in Miami, knows that self-censorship can be as destructive as anything imposed from the outside...

Pardon me if I'm a little skeptical of her claims that de Leon is a champion of free speech since he has threatened, on behalf of his client, to sue me for libel and slander. His client, an editorial contributor to the Herald, doesn't like allegations that I reported (not made) about her. If the allegations are indeed libelous and slanderous, then I suspect that he should take it up with the person who made the allegations and not the person who reports them.

Now another Herald writer, Menendez, is portraying this guy as a champion of free speech. Champion of free speech, my ass!

UPDATE:

My parents didn't come to this country 5 decades ago so that their children could be silenced by some fancy pants lawyer who claims to advocate for free speech or some college professor with a shady background (the characterization of her background being shady is my opinion and opinion is a valid defense against libel and slander).

Revolutionary Cuba: Tourism Mecca

Just dont eat the food, drink the water, take any valuables or expect to have a great vacation.

Crow

It's what's for breakfast.

I been eating so much of it, I open my mouth and all that comes out is "CAW! CAW! CAW!"

Looks like tonight's Babalu Radio Hour is gonna be a doozie.

I hang my head in shame.

The majority of the time I live my life with the utmost pride that I am a Cuban exile, and that I have never been and never will be part and parcel of that communist scourge that plagues the island of my birth. Yet there are moments, very few and very far between, that a profound and all encompassing sense of shame of being a Cuban Exile envelops me.

As I type this, I live in that envelop. Never have I ever felt such embarrassment and such remorse and self-disgust.

I just got off the phone with Emilio Estefan and I will state here publicly, in no uncertain terms, that he and Gloria deserve an apology from each and every one of us for our trampling of their reputations vis-a-vis their upcoming album 90 Millas. I feel ashamed simply for even having the slightest doubt as to their convictions, whether or not I stated these publicly or not.

So here it is, like it or not:

I support Gloria and Emilio Estefan's new work 90 Millas completely and wholeheartedly and I will not allow any further slander of their persons or conviction on this blog. It seems, my first instinct were 100% correct when Henry posted on this subject last week.

No one here knows what is exactly on that album.

No one here knows what conversations the Estefans had prior, during and after the recording with Carlos Santana.

No one here knows what the album is truly about, who else is featured on same and what the accompanying documentary features and focuses on.

Moreover, you can criticize their music til your hearts content, but as I've stated here and elsewhere, the Estefans have been impeccable examples of the Cuban exile community their entire lives and have represented our community and its convictions with dignity, class and honesty, with little or no thought to their professional careers and despite being in an industry where their particular views - our views - are less, much less, than popular and constantly criticized and denigrated.

There are some folks out their who are of the belief that the Estefans dont do enough for the freedom of Cuba given their public exposure and notoriety. To those folks all I can say is you are dead wrong. While they may not be constantly in the news spouting the evils of fidel castro and his regime, they have taken on industries, kings, presidents, the United Nations and countless other people and entities and are always fighting for what all of you here and I are fighting for on a daily basis., only they have been doing so their entire adult lives.

Our passion sometimes get the better of us and when we jump the gun, as in this case, we only hurt ourselves and our cause. And then we certainly live up to that stigma that we are always trying to rectify.

In the words of Emilio: "Some of the comments directed at me and Gloria questioning our convictions as Cubans and as exiles are like mentandome la madre."

I apologize to Gloria and Emilio, personally, for any discord or detriment this blog may have caused and I hope you all will do the same.

Update: I forgot to menton that Emilio will be issuing a press release tonight or tomorrow regarding this which Ill post as soon as it's recieved.

Someone mentioned to me that perhaps Emilio may be doing some PR damage control and that perhaps the call and the subsequent media appearances - Emilio was on a phone interview on TV just after speaking to me - are an attempt to diffuse waht could be a major issue regarding 90 Millas. That may be so, but from my conversation and what I took from it, he is more angry about criticisms regarding their convictions from their own community. That said and my conversation being off the record, time will most certainly tell. Should I have been duped or be wrong, Ill be the first to publicly eat crow.

UPDATE: Here's the press release, just received:

Statement

Por los últimos 32 años de nuestra carrera ha sido extremadamente clara nuestra posición anti-Castrista frente a Presidentes, La Realeza de varios países, el Papa Juan Pablo, la prensa mundial y cualquier persona que haya tocado el tema de Cuba con nosotros. Incluso cuando hubiese sido mas fácil callar hemos expresado nuestro desacuerdo con la dictadura en Cuba y hemos tratado de transmitir el dolor del pueblo Cubano a través del mundo.

Jamás hemos colaborado ni colaboraríamos con ninguna persona que apoye el régimen de Fidel Castro ni al Che Guevara. Eso debería estar completamente claro al ver nuestra trayectoria.

Carlos Santana expresó estas palabras a través de su representante después de su presentación en Los Óscars del 2005:

4/18/2005. The image was not intended to project a single note of the hatred, anger or revolutionary ruthlessness displayed when Che Guevara was a revolutionary leader in Cuba. It was worn to honor the soulful young man portrayed in the movie, who awoke to the struggle of the disenfranchised and who had a profound political epiphany during a journey across South America. The image was not meant to be an endorsement about a man who helped to establish the Castro dictatorship in Cuba.

Quizás algunas personas que vieron su actuación y su vestuario no vieron lo que expreso después al respecto. El Sr. Santana hablo decisivamente durante las entrevistas que se lograron para el documental que acompañara a nuestro nuevo proyecto, “90 Millas” y expreso su deseo de poder actuar en una Cuba Libre.

Gloria y Emilio Estefan

What goes well with crow?

Making Uncommon Sense

Today's must read comes from Uncommon Sense, the blog of Babalu contributor Marc Masferrer. It's about a subject that is very near to my heart: Oscar Elias Biscet. I think the plight of this man and what he represents (and could represent to freedom-loving people if they knew about him) to the fight for Cuban freedom has gotten short shrift from the international media.

When Brian Williams and NBC News was recently down in Cuba they didn't mention Biscet. Do you think they would have gone to South Africa in the 80s and not mentioned Mandela? Marc also dissects the problem in getting the message out there but he rightly points out that the information is there if the MSM only chose to do something with it.

Go read and learn.

I couldn't help myself

Cuban National Assembly President Ricardo Alarcon details fidel castro's latest surgical procedure:

"Before, our glorious leader fidel castro had only one measely anus. Now, through the glorious medical advances of the Revolution, he has two anuses."

Photo and idea from Uncommon Sense and Cubamoto, respectively.

Caite pa'tra...

In the immortal words of Bill Murray's Dr. Peter Venkman in Ghostbusters, when describing sure fire signs of the apocalypse: "Fire and brimstone, dogs and cats living together..."

Media bastion of American left "The Nation" criticizes Ricardo Alarcon.

What's next, little green apples in the summertime?

Cuban spies among us?

You dont say?

Really?

You've got to be shittin' me?

Are you sure?

How can that be?

Cant be that bad, can it?

It's got to be just a few rotten apples, no?

But there's no spies in, say, the US Department Immigration, right?

Who'd a thunk it?

Cuba's biggest food supplier, right here, folks

castro is the hemisphere's leading purveyor of hunger. He took Cuba, a country that exported food and imported immigrants in 1959, to a bottom-of-the-barrel state that must import food from and export emigrants to the nation it seeks to destroy. It's a record of hypocrisy and calcified moral blindness that deserves utter scorn. This bearded thug turned a productive state into a nonproductive beggar nation in less than a generation, and less than 50 short years since his seizure of absolute power. There's no one to blame but himself.

But the United Nations continues to praise him for his supposed "free" health care that does not actually exist, and throws in additional praise for Cuba's supposed hurricane preparedness. It praises Cuban education and Cuba's quaint pre-1959 "heritage" when all it's doing is looking at wastelands of ruins and hovels.

Now the truth will out - the number one supplier of Cuba's food, once again this year, is the heartless U.S. that supposedly is strangling Cuba with its embargo. castro's doing just fine, eating our food and cursing our nation. The disgusting truth can be read here.

How much work would you do for $15 a month?

Thanks to castro, inc. Cubans, who once enjoyed a standard of living comparable to the United States and gladly worked for that comfort, are now paid a slaves wage in the name of the revolution for meaningless work at jobs they did not choose. For this they suffer shortages of everything, inadequate transportation, inadequate child care, and inadequate motivation to produce for an unelected government who steals everything from them. Why should they work? Why should they do anything to provide comfort and security for fidel castro, raul castro, their families, and the criminal thugs who protect them?

More regulations imposed on oppressed Cuban workers: (my emphasis)

Cuba Launches National Campaign for New Work Discipline Laws

HAVANA (AP) -- Senior Cuban officials are analyzing a pair of new labor laws taking affect next month as the island's official media cranks up a campaign about the rules aimed at beefing up work productivity.

The official Communist Party Granma on Monday devoted its back page Monday to the upcoming regulations, which many workers complain are too strict and impossible to follow. State TV in recent days has aired messages about the need for the new regulations.

Cabinet Secretary Carlos Lage oversaw a meeting by senior Cuban officials last Thursday and Friday examining the regulations taking effect on April 1, Granma newspaper said. Parliament speaker Ricardo Alarcon also attended, along with numerous government ministers.

Contained in two resolutions known as 187 and 188, the package of new rules call for workers to arrive at work on time, work their scheduled hours, and remain at work during their scheduled shifts. Workers are also explicitly prohibited from taking any kind of personal payment from third parties for information or any other service.

The regulations also call for government offices to stay open longer so Cubans can handle necessary government paperwork such as getting a driver's license or processing housing documents without missing work.

Granma quoted Labor Minister Alfredo Morales as saying that most workplaces have already adopted some of the new regulations and many are already open longer hours.

The communist newspaper acknowledged that many workers face additional problems that will make it hard to comply with the new regulations, such as unreliable and crowded public transport and limited hours for child care.

Read the whole AP article here.

Bookmark this site

The Damas de Blanco now have a web site. Please spread the word about it and bookmark it.

Hat Tip to Fantomas.

All politics are local...

Or so says the age old political maxim.

With that in mind I want to urge our readers in Florida to support the proposal that is being considered in our state capital to do away with property taxes on primary residences. I have been informed by my State Representative, Anitere Flores, that the strong opposition to the measure will be coming in the State Senate. I am encouraging all of you Floridians to contact your state senator via email and tell them you support House Speaker Marco Rubio's proposal.

For more information on the proposal and why you should support it, please visit: nomorepropertytax.com

Update: You can find your Florida State Senator contact information right here.

My sister and a heavy envelope

I remember it in mental snapshots. Brief glimpses of this or that when I was ten or elleven. And Im sure there must have been much ado in our house back then, what with planning my sister's wedding and all. But try as I might I dont recall all that much.

I remember the white rental tux with the wide lapels and black pants. I rememeber the Polish-American or German-American club where the reception was held. I remember the cases of Busch beer - her fiancee worked for Busch at the time - stacked there in the family room, waiting for that special day. And I vaguely remember walking down the aisle before her, but that's about it.

I dont see her in her wedding dress, but Im sure she looked beautiful. I dont remember her at the altar, or running through rice or tossing her bouquet. Try as I might, those snapshots are blank for me.

But I do, however, remember the heavy envelope like it was yesterday.

I dont recall exactly why my sister and her husband were at my parents home after the wedding - I think they were maybe waiting for their flight - but I do recall there being a lot of people there along with a lot of presents. Everyone in the family, it seemed, was there to see the bride and groom off on their honeymoon.

I must have been pissed at my sister, I guess, for having the gall and audacity to leave the family and her little brother behind because I was locked up in my room while the rest of were there all happy and celebrating. I must have been mad at everyone else for being happy that my sister was leaving me.

As I sulked in my room for what seemed like hours - doing whatever it is the pissed off little boys do - I recall my dad knocking on the door and cracking it open to where I could only see his face. He asked why I was locked up in my room, knowing, of course, why. "No reason" Im sure I said.

"Bueno, esta bien, alla tu" I do remember him saying. "But your sister is about to leave on her honeymoon and she wont be back for two weeks."

"So?"

"Well, when she comes back, she wont be living with us any longer. She'll have her own home from now on."

It hadnt dawned on me. I'd been sulking there for hours thinking about my sister leaving on her honeymoon and how she would be gone for weeks and the fact that she wasnt going to be living in our house anymore hadnt sunk in. Until that precise moment in time.

The sulking quickly turned to crying. My sister was leaving the house. She was just married and would be starting a new life without me. No more little brother to kick around. No more little brother chaperone to try toget away from. No more little brother spitting on the good platanitos. No more little pain in the ass brother, period.

What if I never saw her again? Who was going to take care of me when mom and dad were out? What if she forgot about me? I didnt even give her a wedding present. For sure she'll forget about me now.

So I, the little soon to be forgotten about little pain in the ass brother, decided right then and there that I wasnt gonna let her forget about me. If I gave her a wedding present, she would surely remember her little brother. I knew I didnt have time to buy her something, but I suddenly got the idea of gift ideas.

They were saying their goodbyes when I bolted out my bedroom door and ran towards my mom's room. I rifled through my dad's night table drawer where he kept his bills and papers and things and found an envelope, snatched it, slammed the drawer and ran back to my room. As I ran through the living room I could see they were getting the bags ready and out towards the car.

So I bolted into my bedroom, grabbed my piggy bank and slammed in on the floor where it broke into pieces. I grabbed the envelope, opened it and poured the contents of the now useless piggy bank into it. I found a pencil, mispelled her name on the front and bolted out my bedroom door once again.

My sister was waiting for me in the porch.

I ran up to her, kissed her, handed her the heavy envelope and dashed back into my room where I cried for two weeks.

Today is my sister's birthday and she turns one-hundred and eig...hehehe...just kidding sis, you platanito thief you. There's been lots of water under the bridge since that heavy envelope day. Lots of ups and downs, good days and bad days, smiles and tears. But Im consoled by the fact that I'm still your pain in the ass little brother and youre still my pain in the ass big sister, and I love you. I dont think I could say it better than last year:

Today is the platanito thief's birthday. I wont mention her age or the many many many years that Serpico (I call her Serpico, which is another story altogether) is older than me. But I will mention that I could not have asked for a better sister - even a platanito stealing one. She's always been there for me when I needed her. She's a little kooky in her own astrological, metaphysical, Feng Shue, planets aligning, moon over Uranus kinda way, but she's still my sis and I love her.

She has raised three wonderful kids that have turned out to be wonderful adults and she's an incredibly doting and loving grandmother. She's faced life's trouble with dignity and courage and is always there, punto fijo, whenever the family needs her. Her bursts of laughter are always contagious and this world and my life are all the better for having been blessed with her presence.

Happy birthday, Serpico. And remember, now that youre getting older, your platanito stealing dexterity may be faultering. And maybe, just maybe, Ill get a good platanito for a change.

Happy Birthday, sis! May we enjoy many many more, preferably with platanitos.

PS: I still have the "Acapulco" hat you bought me on your honeymoon.

Beware of free stuff or The Yaque Syndrome

Someone offered the Mrs a free set of '70's era patio furniture the other day. It's made of steel and has a nice design but, as with all steel things exposed to the elements, it had some signs of rust and such. "But it's free," my wife kept saying.

"Yes, its free, ok. We cant pass it up."

So last weekend I took the truck over to the house with the free steel patio furniture and loaded it up and brought the furniture home.

The cushions, however, were old and faded and a bit brittle and of course, summer is coming and some new cushions would "look great and be really comfy for lying around while enjoying the pool."

"How much are the new cushions," I asked.

"Just $300."

"Three-hundred dollars? Are they crazy? That's alot of money for "cushions!"

"But they'll look really nice and we really dont have nice patio furniture and summer's coming and..."

"Ok. Ok. Get the cushions."

So, obviously, we got the $300 cushions.

I was originally going to give the furniture a light sanding and a fresh coat of paint but this is where the "yaque syndrome" comes into play:

"Are you just going to give it a light sanding and fresh coat of paint?" The Mrs asked me.

"Exactly."

"There's a few areas on the furniture where the old paint is chipped and stuff. Will that be seen after a new coat of paint after light sanding?"

"Um...yeah."

"Oh, OK. Pero ya que we spent $300 on cushions, dont you think we ought to sand those down and make it look real nice?"

So, guess what I spent the weekend doing?

The total, so far, for that "free" patio furniture set:

$300 for cushions.
$44 for a sandblaster.
$20 for sandblasting material and sand.
$15 sandpaper.
$20 primer.
$35 paint.
$40 beer.

Grand total - so far - for that "free" patio set: $444.

I wont add up the backache, hurt fingers and sore arms and legs.

Beware of free stuff, friends. And always, always, take into account the "yaque syndrome."

On the Boob Tube

Tonight I was watching local Spanish TV and got to catch Carlos Alberto Montaner's new show for the first time. He had a guest on (can't remember his name) who was talking about the 6 great ironies of Cuban Communism. I have a vague recollection of having heard these before but I thought they were worth mentioning:

1. Despite the fact that in Cuba everyone has a job, nobody works.

2. Despite the fact that nobody works, production quotas are always surpassed.

3. Despite the fact production quotas are surpassed, the warehouses and stores are always empty.

4. Despite the fact that the warehouses and stores are always empty, the people's needs are always met.

5. Despite the fact that the people's needs are always met, Cubans complain privately about the government.

6. Despite the fact that people complain privately about the government, they overwhelmingy "re-elect" it time and again.

Another pithy phrase I picked up from the TV was in regards to raul castro and whether or he will make changes in Cuba. The commentator said "raul will change something in order to change nothing." I think there's a lot of truth in that. He'll make some cosmetic changes to give himself cover as a reformer while the fundamental changes that are necessary to move Cuba forward will be avoided at all costs because they will result in the end of the tyranny.

UPDATE:

Some readers are adding to the above list in the comments section. I will post the best ones and some of my own thoughts here:

1. Despite the fact that Cuba is waging a battle of ideas, the internet is censored and satellite tv is banned.

2. Despite the fact that Cuban health care is free, Cubans depend on their stateside relatives to send them medicines and medical supplies.

3. Despite a US blockade, the US is Cuba's leading supplier of food and agricultural products.

4. Despite the fact that Cuba has such great social equality, hundreds of thousands of Cubans only want to leave.

5. Despite the fact that the Cuban Revolution ended exploitation of Cubans by tourists, Cubans are forbidden from enjoying the accommodations that foreigners are entitled to.

6. Despite the fact that the Cuban Revolution banned prostitution, today Cuba's prostitutes are "the best educated and most healthy in the world."

7. Despite the fact that virtually every Cuban can read, it can be a punishable crime to give away or lend out books.

Herald Acknowledges New Case Different From Elian

It took a day, but The Miami Herald admits that the latest U.S./Cuba custody battle involving a 4-year-old girl doesn't exactly parallel the Elian saga 7 years ago. I guess that's how you sell papers.

From the story:

• The 4-year-old girl's case is essentially a custody dispute playing out in a Miami juvenile court, where a state judge will decide whether her father is fit to take custody. Both mother and daughter entered the country legally two years ago.

Elián's case, a federal court matter, was fundamentally about whether he had the right to apply to the U.S. government for asylum after the five-year-old's mother died while they crossed the Florida Straits in November 1999.

U.S. immigration authorities temporarily allowed Elián, rescued at sea, into the country for medical treatment.

• The 4-year-old girl's case landed in court after the state Department of Children & Families found the psychologically troubled mother was unfit because of her abusive behavior toward the daughter. She was placed with a Cuban American family in Coral Gables -- a family that state child welfare administrators say is more fit than the girl's Cuban father to raise her.

Elián ended up in court when his Miami relatives, who represented him, sought an asylum hearing, citing the oppressive government of Cuban leader Fidel Castro. That triggered a confrontation with top federal officials, who found Elián did not have the right to seek asylum and that his Cuban father spoke for him. The father wanted his son returned to Cuba.

• The 4-year-old girl was placed with a Cuban American family in Coral Gables -- a family state child welfare administrators say is more fit than the girl's Cuban father to raise her. Three sources with knowledge of the case say state child-welfare workers have asked Circuit Judge Jeri B. Cohen -- who issued a gag order to all the parties -- to grant that same family long-term custody of the girl. The girl's father in Cuba wants custody.

Read the entire article here.

U.S.-Cuba custody fight brews over girl

I almost choked when I saw the headline. Oh no, not again. While the details of the this case are very different from Elian's, the basic question is the same; should the U.S. send this child back to Cuba? No, no, no, no, no, they should not. "But she's in a foster home they'll argue, and her father wants her."

Ask someone who was a Pedro Pan child if they would rather be living their life in communist Cuba.

Nothing is more important to individual health and happiness than freedom, glorious freedom. Cuba has one of the highest rates of suicide for women in the world, and for good reason. In Cuba, there is nothing for a young women to look forward to other than a life of heartbreak and struggle. How can a woman embrace life if her children have no hopes, no dreams, and no chance for a better life except to leave?

Except:

U.S.-Cuba custody fight brews over girl

An international custody battle over a Coral Gables girl is quietly playing out in Miami-Dade County's juvenile courthouse.
By Carol Marbin Miller
cmarbin@MiamiHerald.com

A 4-year-old girl living in Coral Gables is at the center of an international custody dispute between the United States and Cuba over who will raise her: her father who lives in Cuba and wants her back, or a family acquaintance who Florida child welfare administrators say is more fit.

Because of a secrecy order, the battle over the youngster has played out quietly in Miami-Dade County's juvenile courthouse in Allapattah. But three sources with knowledge of the case say state child-welfare workers have asked Circuit Judge Jeri B. Cohen to grant long-term custody of the girl to an acquaintance of the girl's family.

The girl, whose identity is being withheld by court and child-welfare administrators, was taken from her mother by the Florida Department of Children & Families about a year ago, sources said, after an investigation into charges that the mother's severe mental illness made her an unfit parent.

DCF also took custody of the girl's older, preteen brother. The children, who have different fathers living in Cuba, came to the United States legally two years ago. The boy's father agreed to surrender his parental rights, sources said, so there is no dispute about his staying in the United States.

The girl's father, though, is pressing to gain custody. His lawyer is Ira Kurzban, a prominent immigration attorney who has represented the Cuban government in the past.

Cohen, who presides over child-welfare, foster-care and adoption cases, has closed all proceedings in the case to the public and ordered all parties involved not to discuss it. It is not known when she will make a decision in the case.

With a presidential election on the horizon, this case provides an excellent opportunity for the party in power to remember some promises they made in South Florida.

Read the whole story at the Miami Herald.

Fontova takes on the castro Corporation and its MSM Subsidiaries

Speaking truth to power is Humerto Fontova's greatest strength. From his latest piece at NewsMax, titled "Cuba Boots Foreign Reporters," we have the following on the AP's Anita Snow and her latest castro propaganda fluff piece:

You will search the AP report in vain for any mention of this. But Mrs. Snow does tug at our heartstrings with the pleadings of one of these spies' daughters from Cuba: "She thinks it's great to see her dad on the billboards, but she'd rather see her dad at home. That's the logical place for her dad to be."

The Castro Corporation — with firing-squads, prison beatings, and starvings, with drownings and shark attacks, has killed 102,000 Cubans. Virtually every Cuban-American family has relatives kidnapped and held-ransom by the Castro Corporation.

Mrs. Anita Snow could pick from thousands, upon thousands, upon thousands of daughters whose fathers were murdered by firing squads and whose fathers and grandfathers served the longest terms of political incarceration and torture in modern history. But no, the Associated Press instead showcased the bogus bleatings from a spokesperson for a murderous Stalinist regime for her article.

Ouch.

As usual, read the whole excellent thing here.

Cuba Nostalgias Past

Just thought Id post a compilation of some of the past Cuba Nostalgia Convention entries for those not familiar with the event to get a better idea of why it's important that we attend:

First and foremost, Babalu rumberas.

Our first year coincided with the unprecedented Asamblea dissident meeting in Havana. Folks at the convention were coming by and getting the news of this event straight from Babalu. Posts are here, here, here and here.

Musica Cuban at Cuba Nostalgia.

The heartbreakingly painful Muro del Desahogo.

Un piloto de Cubana de Aviacion.

More from la Asamblea.

Celia.

Cachao.

Emails to fidel. Here's another one.

T-shirts for Democracy.

Remote Cuba Nostalgia Blogging.

Bloggers supporting Babalu at Cuba Nostlagia, 2005.

Cuba Nostalgia 2006:

Great writers.

Classic cars, the entrance and the Babalu exhibit.

Babalu in the news.

The Pedro Pan exhibit.

Another email to fidel castro.

Emotions.

El Encanto.

Ahem.

Inspiration and gratitude.

The che cunundrum.

Sticking it to ENCASA.

A letter to Wayne Smith for all to see.

Three generations emailing the dictator.

Che Hunter.

La Reina del Bolero.

I hope the above gives you all an idea of just what the Cuba Nostalgia Convention is, what it means to be there and all the hard work it takes to have a successful exhibit. It also takes a fair amount of money to get everything done and this year, more than the previous years, we'll probably need a bit more as I plan to launch the El Exilio project by video taping exile stories from the Convention floor.

I have to admit that despite all the hard work and preparations and running around, we have a great time each year. We get to meet readers of the blog in person, we get to talk to older folks who have never heard of a blog, much less Babalu, and let them know that our generation hasnt forgotten their sacrifices nor their pain and that we stand willing to carry one with their love of Cuba and their fight for her freedom. We get to see three, sometimes four generations of Cuban exiles experiencing Cuba together, perhaps for the first time. We blog, we take pictures, we talk to tons of people and enjoy great music, food and the company of our friends and blog colleagues - all of us together at the convention as we are on the net.

So, if you've been thinking about coming down to Miami this year, consider making it the weekend of May 18 through the 20. You can take a few hours away from visitas and enjoy Cuba Nostalgia and spend some time with us at the Babalu Pavilion.

And, if you can spare a few bucks to help us defray the costs, please drop'em in the till. You can use the paypal button below or email me for an address if you prefer to donate via check or money order.

Thanks to all and I hope to see you all at Cuba Nostalgia, Ill be the tired looking, frazzled guy with a mojito in one hand and a pan con lechon in the other.

A Friday Open Thread

Here's a couple of links to a couple of "articles" that will be sure to get those juices flowing today:

Cuban exile insists ernesto guevara's remaind still buried in Bolivia.

Speaking of che guevara, 6 minutes into this YouTube video, you can see his image donned by TNA "pro" wrestlers.

I can accept Cuban government officials infiltrating the UN Human Rights Council, but when they mess with baseball, that's a whole other animal.

The epitomy of the Cuban term, cuento chino.

The International Society for Human Rights on Cuba.

Mozart Meets Cuba.

If the above dont get you going today, use the comments section as an open thread for any interesting links, articles, blogposts, etc...

Friday Fast for Cuban Political Prisoners

In solidarity.

No money? No problem.

American taxpayers pick up the tab again:

Did you know that Argentina owes the United States more than $3 billion and doesn't want to pay it back?

Did you know that this debt was financed by investors like you and pension plans around the country?

Did you know that Argentina defaulted on this debt over 6 years ago?

Did you know that Argentina currently enjoys a record growth rate and $35 billion in reserves yet refuses to pay back its debts?

Did you know that Argentina received more than $3.5 billion in aid from Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez in 2006?

Don't you think its time for Argentina to pay you back? Click here.

Cuba Nostalgia Donations

I've finally fixed the screw-up with Paypal and am now able to take donations for Cuba Nostalgia online once again. If you want to help out with the event, please click the "Make a donation" button below and follow the simple instructions. We really need some financial support this year and Im hoping you all can add a few bucks to the Cuba Nostalgia coffers so that we can put on a great exhibit.

Suelten el gallo, caballeros...

War Hero Food - from Marta's Cuban American Kitchen

There is a direct line from our senses to our memories – especially smell and taste.
The comments I have gotten so far in response to this feature attest to that. The smell and flavor of Cuban food has a certain distinction. It is inexorably linked to our best memories of family - safety and comfort and all things familiar.
I was hesitant at first to share my recipes, because we Cubans are sooo opinionated about everything. Especially our food.

“NO ONE makes (fill in the blank with your favorite Cuban dish) like my abuela.”

And you know what? It’s true.
My four kids will tell you the same thing about me. They think I am an amazing cook and will eat just about anything I serve them. The only things they ever question are what they consider to be “Guajiro Food” or what’s known in my house as “War Hero Food.”

War Hero Food falls under the following categories:
Anything thick or with texture.
Puré or Potaje.
Does it involve root vegetables?
Can it be eaten with either a spoon OR a fork? =D

This particular blend of tastes actually surprised them. (“Hey, Mikey!”)
I know all you Babalú War Heroes will enjoy it, too.

Tamal en Cazuela

1 lb. Lean boneless pork shoulder cut into very small bite-size cubes (or you could just grind it – I prefer the bits of pork)
3 cloves garlic – finely chopped
Juice of 1 or 2 limes
3 Tbsp. Olive oil
1 small onion – finely chopped
¼ green bell pepper, seeded & finely chopped
2 (8 oz.) cans tomato sauce
1 cup dry white wine
1 tsp. cumin
1 ½ cups yellow corn meal
2 (14 oz.) cans sweet CREAM STYLE corn
2 cups water
1 tsp.Salt
½ tsp. Pepper

1) Squeeze the lime over the pork bits and garlic. (I LOVE lime in anything – so to me, more is better.)
2) In a large frying pan, brown the lime-drenched pork with the chopped garlic over medium-high heat. (careful not to burn the garlic, or it will get bitter.)
3) Turn down the heat and add olive oil, onion, and bell pepper and sauté until onion is translucscent.
4) Add tomato sauce and wine. Let it simmer on low while you prepare the corn mixture:

5) Mix together the corn meal, cumin, salt, pepper, and sweet creamed corn – put it in a food processor or blender and let it whirl until it's well blended and you get a thick liquid.
6) Put this mixture into a big pot. Add the water and stir together. Add the contents of the frying pan.
7) Cook over medium heat until it starts bubbling (just a few minutes). Then simmer on low for about 20 minutes stirring often to keep from sticking.

When you can do "The Amazing Spoon Trick," you'll know it's done. =D

Anita Snow's tongue must taste like boot leather (Updated)

Via castro Death Watch, AP "reporter" Anita Snow opts to fluff piece the five convicted Cuban spies who probably live much better in a US prison - three hots and a cot, Cable TV, free healthcare, legal representation, etc... - than the 11 million "free" Cubans on the island. Given this past weekend's 4th anniversary of the Primavera Negra, one would think that Anita and the AP - members of the "we can make a difference and improve the world by looking out for the little guy and the oppressed" MSM - would use said anniversary to shed some light on the abysmal treatment of imprisoned Cuban journalists and librarians and dissidents.

But of course, expecting any actual reporting of the actual facts that prove the castro regime's complete and undeniable disregard for human and civil rights from Anita Snow and her MSM Havana bureau colleagues is naive at best. Given this month's ousting of three foreign journalists from the island, the remaining cadre of "journalists" must be walking on the proverbial egg shells, lest they lose their cushy jobs and their cushy homes in the island paradise that they enjoy like none of the natives are able to.

Do us all a favor, Anita, take a breath mint, boot leather breath smells like shit.

Update: For anyone that may be even contemplating defending Anita Snow, etal, all you need to do check the "On the web" links at the end of her "article" and then take a quick trip over to the Indepundit, where Smash describes this past weekend's Gathering of Eagles counter protest to ANSWER's anti-war protests:

The source of funding for many of these radical parties – whose national membership is pitifully small – is somewhat of a mystery. Do they get money from foreign governments? It’s almost impossible to say for certain. But one can take an educated guess, based on which dictator’s propaganda is most prominently displayed.

This very expensive-looking multi-color banner urges the release of the “Cuban Five.” These men are members of Fidel Castro’s “Wasp” spy network, who were arrested in 1999 and convicted of 26 criminal counts including the use of false identification, espionage and conspiracy to commit murder.

....

Realistically, nobody in America gives a damn about five convicted Cuban spies rotting away in prison. Yet support for the “Cuban Five” is a prominent part of every major ANSWER rally. Indeed, the web site for the Party of Socialism and Liberation (for which ANSWER is a front group), features an abundance of articles expressing support and admiration for the Castro regime.

Also, notice that the banner contains an address for a website, www.antiterroristas.cu. If the “cu” suffix doesn’t look familiar to you, that’s because you don’t normally visit propaganda websites that are hosted in Cuba.

Still wondering where groups like ANSWER get their funding? I’m not.

Here's a picture of the banner from Smash's post:

Man, somebody's boots must be mighty mighty shiny this week.

Three Cheers for My Alma Matter

The Miami-dade Community College Chess Team, all Cuban-Americans and we wrote about last year, has once again made it to the finals in the Pan American Intercollegiate Chess Tournament:

Miami College Reaches Chess Finals

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: March 22, 2007
Filed at 3:06 a.m. ET

MIAMI (AP) -- Don't underestimate the grocery store deli worker, the security alarm salesman or the 34-year-old computer science student who anchor the Miami Dade College chess team.

The community college undergrads have already faced Yale, Harvard, Dartmouth, Northwestern and Virginia at the Pan American Intercollegiate Chess Tournament -- and beaten them all.

By finishing fourth in that tournament, Miami Dade qualified for this weekend's finals of collegiate chess, facing powerhouses University of Texas-Dallas, Duke University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Read the rest right here.